Knape & Vogt modular shelving: The first patent ever for a metal modular system, 1934

Talk about how a little bit of knowledge can turn your perspective around 180 degrees: I grew up in the 1960s and 1970s and no question, the modular Knape & Vogt shelving like that shown above  was ubiquitious during the period… It was very affordable, and as with wood paneling, it went up in all in … like … every teenager’s bedroom, including mine… Yes, it was so ubiquitous that for the past several decades, I haven’t given it any thought at all, and if I did see it in passing, I would not have given it much respect… BUT NOW, as part of my continuing research into midcentury modular shelving systems, I have learned that Knape & Vogt is the original — it was the first such system to be patented, in 1934. That little bit of information made me snap to.  Knape and Vogt = Cool. Yes: Knape and Vogt modular shelving — with its steel ‘standards’ and brackets — still available for sale today, made in the U.S.A. — is worthy of our respect and consideration for our midcentury houses.

Knape & Vogt standards and shelving are extremely adaptable. Let me count the ways:

• You can order the “standards” (the tall strips of powder-coated steel — with slots strategical designed to hold shelf brackets, movable all along the standard) in a wide variety of lengths…
• The standards and brackets come in 6 weight-ratings, depending on your needs — light-, medium-, heavy- and three more super-heavy-duty ratings — The heavy duty standards+brackets are even strong enough to hold a desk top…
• You can adjust your shelf locations, depths and materials (white? glass? metal? wood? yes) over and over again…
• There is a decent array of colors, including white, almond, brown, black, and metal finishes.
• Another advantage: Unlike those tricky, metric European systems that aren’t designed to hit our studs, Knape & Vogt’s standards and brackets are about as easy to install as it gets — you screw the standards into your studs and you are ready to rock and roll.
• Finally: The KV standards and brackets are not terribly expensive — for example, 10 regular-duty standards are just under $80… the brackets aren’t too expensive either.

You know what? I am really needing to get some sort of modular system for a narrow wall in my husband’s office — to hold the small flat screen TV, some TV component thingie, a lamp, and maybe some tchotchkes. I just don’t have the time to wait out a vintage Cado or whatever that’s likely “almost” what I needs (and then fork over hundreds of dollars and then wrangle the metric). Instead, I think I am going to use KV standards and brackets, probably in brown — and use super nice wood for the shelving. It will kind of look like the unit above (the photo with the chair and the dog). Hey, I might even be able to hack a shallow cabinet onto the standards. We’ll see…

I do wish the Knape & Vogt website were more modern and retail-customer-friendly. But, their site does get the job done in terms of delivering info on all the different products available. You can order right there, or cross-shop at other online retailers, if you want to see if you can get an even better deal. Either way, KV is a classic choice, with a pedigree. I am now an official fan.

Links:

• Knape & Vogt standards and shelving
• I also found it here at Hardware Hut

And note: I now have an entire Category going: Storage & Shelving. You can check out my growing list of research into midcentury modern wall unit systems there.